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Herodotus · Histories §2.58.1

Egyptian Origin of Festivals and Processions

Passage 274 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The author explains, with chronological evidence, that the Egyptians were the first to establish festivals, processions, and assemblies, and that the Greeks learned these practices from them.

§2.58.1πανηγύρις δὲ ἄρα καὶ πομπὰς καὶ προσαγωγὰς πρῶτοι ἀνθρώπων Αἰγύπτιοι εἰσὶ οἱ ποιησάμενοι, καὶ παρὰ τούτων Ἕλληνες μεμαθήκασι.
Indeed, the Egyptians are the first of men to have established solemn assemblies, processions, and services of approach, and the Greeks have learned these from them.
τεκμήριον δέ μοι τούτου τόδε· αἱ μὲν γὰρ φαίνονται ἐκ πολλοῦ τευ χρόνου ποιεύμεναι, αἱ δὲ Ἑλληνικαὶ νεωστὶ ἐποιήθησαν.
And for me, this is the proof of it: for the former are clearly celebrated from a long time ago, whereas the Greek ones were established but recently.

Notes

  1. §2.58.1πανηγύρις — Accusative plural, standing in coordination with `πομπὰς` and `προσαγωγὰς`. In the Ionic dialect, the accusative plural of -is stem nouns can take the ending `-ις` in addition to `-ιας`.
  2. §2.58.1φαίνονται ... ποιεύμεναι — The verb `φαίνομαι` here takes the participle `ποιεύμεναι` (present middle-passive participle, feminine plural, Ionic form). While `φαίνομαι` with an infinitive means "seems to do" (but perhaps does not), with a participle it means "is clearly doing/manifestly done."
  3. §2.58.1αἱ μὲν — The feminine plural nominative article, serving as the first part of the contrast `αἱ μὲν ... αἱ δὲ Ἑλληνικαὶ`. In this context, it refers back to the feminine nouns `πανηγύρις`, `πομπὰς`, and `προσαγωγὰς` (specifically those of the Egyptians).

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §2.58.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.58.1

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